Principles Of Good Singing Pt. 3: Personality

Very closely related to the singer’s need to be believable is the idea that a singer could hardly qualify as authentic if what is distinctive about who he is, as a one of a kind person, remains hidden from his performances. The general rule in this regard is that more is better—more self-expression, more attitude, more feeling, more conviction, more individuality—in short, more personality. This does not mean, however, that a singer should not practice thoughtful discipline to ensure that he does not “over sing” or over emote, for instance. On the contrary, the best singer knows how to use constraint creatively to make certain that his personality—while expressed fully—also serves his artistic purposes and does not stand as an obnoxious, self-indulgent hindrance. In fact, how one uses constraint to
mold one’s artistic personality is a critical component of a singer’s style. As such, it’s also a close ally to what works to make a singer believable.

It should be clear that becoming an original singer is the ultimate goal of any serious student of singing. Does this mean that those who sing for the sheer joy of it, with no interest in becoming artists, or those who perform in “cover bands,” are not real singers? Of course not. Singing is for anyone who wants to use his voice musically for fun, as a spontaneous form of self-expression, as a way to make some money, or simply to celebrate the joy of being alive. I am speaking to students of voice who—in their hearts—want to become artistic singers, who want to devote their lives to becoming the best singers they can be. It’s to them I say: being a great singer and being able to project yourself—your personality—into your singing are inseparable.

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